title: Minor head injury in children: evaluating written discharge advice provided by Scottish emergency departments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Emergency departments (EDs) routinely provide written information when a child with head injury (HI) is discharged home. This usually contains advice about recognizing signs of serious complications such as intracranial bleeding. This study evaluated the quality of discharge leaflets currently provided by Scottish emergency departments (EDs) by comparing them against written discharge advice recommended by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN).
  
  
  METHODS
  All 35 EDs in Scotland which treat children were asked to send a copy of the advice leaflet provided when a child with HI is discharged. Leaflets were evaluated by awarding scores for the inclusion of specific aspects of health information as recommended by SIGN. The inclusion of serious warning symptoms (maximum 20 points) and other advice on observation and help-seeking (maximum 21 points) was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  34 EDs provided leaflets. The median score for including serious warning symptoms was 10/20. The median score for including advice regarding observation and when to seek help was 6.5/21. Several leaflets contained unclear or contradictory advice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many leaflets did not include important information recommended by SIGN guidelines. There was considerable variation in the quality and clarity of written discharge advice provided. This may reduce the ability of parents to recognize rare but serious complications. It is recommended that a standardized HI information leaflet based on SIGN guidelines be used across all Scottish EDs.
authors.affiliation: Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick , Coventry , UK .
authors.forename: Kasim L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hawley
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peachey
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Unsworth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D032882:Comprehension; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010174:Pamphlets; D010290:Parents; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012606:Scotland; D012648:Self Care